Step-ladder.



W. P. NEWMAN.

STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1910.

Patenfied Sept. 19, 1911.

we was WILLIAM P. NE'WMAN, OF BUCYRUS, OHIO.

STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

Application filed November 1. 1910. Serial No. 590,211.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \Vummn P. NEWMAN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Bucyrus, in the county of Crawford and State ofOhio, have invented ccr-- tain new and useful Improvements in Step-Laddcrs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for bracing step-ladders.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an etlicient means forprovtaiting a step-ladder from falling inn side or lateral direction. Itis well known that: step-ladders have a tendency to fall in a lateraldirection and in many necessary to employ ladder from falling sidcwiseand it is thidefect that I remedy by my iurcntiim. l attain these andother objects by the m ccha-- nism illustrated in the :mcompanyingdrawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view ol an open step-laddeasit appears when in use show ing my bracing device attached thereto. Fig.2 is a perspective view of a stepl:nlder showing the legs folded orclosed and my bracing device interposed between them. Fig. 3 a sectionalview taken on line X X of one of the legs of a step-ladder, the braceand the means of clamping them together when adjusted to the requiredposition. Fig. 4 is a detail plan View in perspective ol. n serratedWasher which is used as part of the clamping means.

In the drawings, re tercnce numerals .l and 2 represent Hie forward andrear legs oil the ordinary step-builder. llrnccs 3 and l havinglongitudinal slots 5 and (3 are secured by my novel clamp to the upperportion ot the front legs 1 and are adapted when in use to swingoutwardly in a lateral direction as shown in Fig. l and inwardly whenthe step-laddm' is folded leaving the braces 33 and *lt'olded betweenthe rear and front. liolls T.

legs 1 and 2 as shown in Fig. 2. are inserted in the slots 5 and oleaving the threaded ends adapted to be inserted in cases when in use itis assistance to keep the apertures provided in the trout legs andprojecting beyond the edge surl'accs to rcbody portion A serrated washer8 is mterceive a nut.

posed between the head of the bolts 7 and thc slotted braces. the teethof -which are adapted to be embedded in the braces to prevent the bracestrom slipping'whcn in use.

in order to keep the parts .l and 10 of the braces from spreading, aclamp with a channeled body portion ll is provided into which the bracesare lilt-ed, thc sides of the clamp being adapted to preventthe parts 9and H) from spreading when the clamp is tightened or tt ljllrdttl.Washers l2 having llaugcs adapted to lit the edges of the trout lcgs areprovided. Winged nuts 13 are provided and lhrcadnbly engagctheprojcclingthreaded cud ol' the bolts thereby providing a clamping means to holdthe.

tightcncd braccs t and l rigidly at any angle desired when the nut istightened.

ln l ig. l a short brace l-l-is shown in dotted line which is llr-cilwhen it is desired to clean windows or the like thc cud ot the shortbrace It being adapted to be adjusted to abut against: a window 15 orthe like. it will be apparent that when the brace l-t is used, it is notncccssar to use the lateral brace 2; when it is in the position shown inFig. 1.

It will be noted that the braces can be swung laterally to anyinclination desired as the braces can be adjusted through the medium ofthe longitudinal slot or slots and held rigidly at any point oladjustment by the clamping means hcrcinbclorc described.

hat I claim is1- l. The combination with a step-ladder of slotted bracespiyutally attached thereto to swing in a lateral direction and providedwith slots; ot a clamping means comprising a channeled body portion toengage the sides of the braces adjacent to the slots and bolts passingthrough said slots and an aperture in the body portion to securelyretain said body portion ol the clamp to the braces whereby said bracesare retained at any point ol their adjustment.

3. The combination with a stcp laddcr of braocs pirotally attachedthcl'cto to swing in a lateral dire tion and provided with slots, aclamping means comprising a channeled braces adjacent to the slots andbolts passto engage. the sides 01 the ing through said slots and anaperture in In testimony whereof I afiix my signature the body portionto securely retain said body in presence of two Witnesses.

portion of the clamp to the braces whereby WILLIAM P NEWMAN said bracesare retained at any point of their 5 adjustment, and a serrated Washerto engage Witnesses:

said braces and adapted to be embedded JOHN'H. Coss,

therein for the purpose described. v PEARL ACKERMAN.

